OAA Book of the Month: Penelope: The World of Each Other
In Penelope: The World of Each Other, author Paul Bochner offers a moving and intimate memoir that challenges the way we understand and relate to wildlife. Through his evolving relationship with a wild deer named Penelope, Bochner invites readers to witness the depth of connection, communication, and shared experience that can exist between humans and the animals who live alongside us.
What begins as a simple moment of curiosity becomes, over time, a profound cross-species friendship. Bochner chronicles Penelope’s presence in his life with tenderness and respect, illustrating that animals, whether domesticated or wild, possess rich emotional lives and distinct personalities. His narrative gives voice to what many animal advocates know to be true: that sentience is not a scientific abstraction but something observable, relatable, and deeply moving when we take the time to pay attention.
For readers invested in animal welfare, the book serves as a powerful reminder of the ethical responsibility we hold toward the creatures who share our communities. Bochner’s reflections highlight the importance of coexistence, compassion, and recognizing the agency of wildlife—a perspective closely aligned with Ohio Animal Advocates’ mission to promote humane treatment and build safer environments for all animals across the state.
Part memoir and part ecological meditation, Penelope: The World of Each Other stands out as a thoughtful contribution to contemporary animal literature. It encourages us not only to appreciate the hidden lives of Ohio’s own deer and wildlife, but also to consider how our daily choices and attitudes shape the world we share with them.
For anyone passionate about animal protection, humane values, or stories that illuminate the emotional capacity of wildlife, Bochner’s memoir is a meaningful and inspiring read.
Take Action for Ohio’s Wildlife
If Penelope’s story inspires you, we invite you to join OAA in protecting the wild animals who call Ohio home.
Explore our Wildlife Protection Advocacy work here:
